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Saturday, January 21, 2006

Sanders is the new defensive coordinator.

"After a week of interviews that included several qualified candidates, HeadCoach Mike McCarthy on Saturday named Bob Sanders defensive coordinator.

"Coming into the interview process for the defensive coordinator position,"McCarthy said, "I did not know much about Bob Sanders other than I had beentold he did a good job here last season. Bob and I met for several hours everyday last week. We talked about everything from defensive philosophies andschemes to our own coaching and personal backgrounds. I was impressed withBob's football knowledge and, equally, with him as a person and his character.I felt like this is someone I could have a partnership with and who I wouldhave great confidence in to run our defense."

Sanders, 52, brings continuity to a defense that ranked seventh overall andfirst against the pass in 2005, his first season as Packers defensive endscoach. A protégé of former coordinator Jim Bates, who parted ways with the teamMonday by mutual agreement, Sanders has been coaching for 30 years. In four ofhis five seasons in the NFL, Sanders has coached on defenses that finishedamong the league's top eight in yards per game."